A new Spar store has just opened in Liverpool city centre with an ambitious independent owner taking his first steps into convenience retail.
Kent Gu has opened Spar Monument Place at the heart of the city, between Liverpool Lime Street central train station and the University of Liverpool.
The store, which is service by James Hall & Co. Ltd, features a “comprehensive convenience offer with excellent fresh food and ambient ranges,” it said.
There is a focus on grab and go with a Cheeky Coffee machine and Clayton Park Bakery hot food unit central to this, and a broad range of chilled sandwiches and snacks are adjacent alongside a large, refrigerated drinks cabinet.
There is also a small seating area enabling customers to meet, eat and drink in store if they wish.
In addition Spar Monument Place’s frozen section is under the recently announced Iceland Foods branding and there is a corner dedicated to chilled beers, ciders and wines.
Kent first moved to Liverpool in 2012 and has a background in food retail going back to 2013 with eJoy Asian Foods supermarkets in Liverpool’s Myrtle Street and Devon Street.
This knowledge is felt in store too, with a strong range of Oriental foods and delicacies to support the significant Chinese and Asian population residing in the city.
The store is also opening on the cusp of transformational change in Monument Place - which is undergoing a renaissance through major investment in public space improvements and to its transport links.
Kent said: “I’m very pleased with the store and feel really excited to be joining Spar with James Hall. I’ve visited the distribution centre and been to the company’s retailer events. I’m confident in my choice as I have been very impressed with everything I’ve seen.
“Joining Spar has also enabled me to stay independent and I have a hybrid offer with many different Oriental products included as part of my wider range.
“I feel I’ve got the right team in place too. Mo, my Store Manager, has a catering background and excels with customer service, and assistant manager Angie has recruited the team of 15 to her very high standards with a mix of age and experience.
“The support I’ve received in opening the store from James Hall has been fantastic as well - in particular my retail sales advisor, Danny Millington. Previously I’ve tried to do everything myself - design, materials, contractors - and it’s so difficult to balance.
“It’s been a long journey getting here as I first planned to convert my Myrtle Street eJoy store into a Spar back in 2021. As plans progressed it became clear it wasn’t going to work. Then the opportunity came to lease this unit in Monument Place, and I finally agreed that in 2024.”
Location is also key, Kent said: “I think the location here in the Fabric District is a good one. We have apartments above us and the conversion of the former TJ Hughes building next door is taking place, which will become a large apartment complex. Monument Place itself is going to be improved and we are in a busy, central location in the city.”
As part of the planning for opening a city centre store, Kent did his homework and gained learnings from Spar City Tower and Oxford Road in Manchester, owned by award-winning independent retailer Paul Stone, where he met Paul’s business partner, Rob Hinchey.
Kent said: “It was very useful to meet Rob and share with him my ambitions for Monument Place and ask him a range of questions about trading a convenience retail store in a city centre.
“Just as I did with my eJoy supermarket stores, I have a thought process that includes opening further city centre Spar stores in the next five years, so I thank him for his insight and time which has been valuable.”
Peter Dodding, Sales Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd and Chair of the Spar Northern Guild, said: “Kent’s recruitment to Spar as an independent retailer has been a slow burner with a complete change of plan for his first store during the process.
“Kent’s store today looks fantastic and is a smart addition to a busy corner of Liverpool city centre. The store’s range has the capability to support different shopping missions, and with the improvement work to come in the locality, there is the promise of even higher footfall to take advantage of in the future.”
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